Stop-watch.



no. 690,721; r Patented Jan. 7., I902,

S. GULDFADEN. 'STOP WATCH;

(Application fild'Ma-r. 30, 1961.)

(llo Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAM GOLDFADEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR. OF ONE-HALF TO VICTOR NIVOIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STO P-WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming m of Letters Iatcnt No. 690,721, dated January 7, 1902.

Application filed March so, 1901 1'0 on whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, SAM GOLDFADEN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stop-Watches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to watches, and has for its object to provide a construction by which a so-called start, stop, and fly-back seconds-hand may be readily fitted to time-' keeping watches, thus adapting such watches for timing horses at races and for like purposes. In explanation I would state that a start, stop, and fly-back seconds-hand is one which maybe allowed to be driven by the clockwork like an ordinary seconds-hand as long as desired, but upon moving a knob or other operating part the seconds-hand will be stopped, and upon again moving said knob the seconds-hand will be instantly thrown back to a predetermined initial position.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple construction of this character consisting of very few parts and adapted for attachment to ordinary watches, even of the cheapest grades, thus adding a valuable feature to such watches at a slight expense.

The invention will be fully described hereinafter and the features of novelty pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement applied to a watch in which the seconds-hand rotates about the same axis as the hour-hand and the minute-hand. Fig.2 is a sectional elevation substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan showing the improvement applied to a watch in which the seconds-hand, as usual, rotates about an axis eccentric to that of the other hands. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation substantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a partial outside View of the watchcase, and Fig. 6 is a detail view of a heartcam and its connection with the seconds-hand spindle.

In all the views many of the usual parts of construction. A by means of which the spindle Ais driven" Serial No. 5&636- (No model.)

the clockwork have been omitted for the sake of clearness, it being understood that my invention has no reference to the clockwork proper, which may be of any approved construction.

In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, A is the spindle of the seconds-hand A, which spindle extends loosely through the minutehand spindle B and the latter through the hour-hand spindle O. This is an ordinary As generally made, the wheel from the clockwork, is rigid upon said spindle. For the purpose of my invention, however, a loose wheel is employed, so that it becomes possible for the spindle A to turn backward while the wheel A remains stationary. Normally the spindle (with the seconds-hand) and the wheel A rotate together, this result being due to the action of a spring D, coiled on the spindle and pressing the wheel A into frictional engagementwith a cross-pin or projection A rigid upon the spindle. This friction is sufficient to compel the spindle and wheel to rotate together under ordinary circumstances, but is not sufficient to prevent a return of the, spindle alone (without affecting the wheel) under the action of the flyback mechanism to bedescribed presently.

With the spindle A is held to rotate a heart-cam E, secured, for instance, by means of a cross-pin F, passing through the spindle and through lugs E on the cam E, as shown best in Fig. 6. This "cam is adapted to be engaged by a knife-edge or wedge G upon an arm G, fulcrun'ned at G upon the clockwork-frame H. A spring I, secured to said frame at I and bearing against a lug G3 on the arm or lever G, has a tendency to throw the edge G in wardthat is, toward the cam E. To hold the arm G in an outer position,

I provide a link'J, pivotally connected with the arm G at J and having at its other end an L-shaped slot J in which is received a "guide pin or screw K, projected from the frame H. This link is further provided with two projecting pins J J adapted to be engaged by inclined surfaces L L respectively, upon an operating-arm L, fulcrumed on the frame H at L and having a portion L projected outwardly, preferably through the watchcase M, so that the operating-arm may be readily manipulated. Further, the arm L carries a pin L, arranged to engage the balance-wheel N before the link J is released to allow the edge G to move into engagement with the cam E, so as to first stop the works. The pin L is elastic, so as to enable it to yield and become bent as the arm Lis moved farther. The arm L has some play between the pins J J so that at first the arm L will move alone.

With the parts of my attachment in their outer position the clockwork is free to operate and the spindle A is free to turn with the driving-wheel A The seconds-hand and the watch will therefore go in the ordinary way. Then the watch is to be used for timing purposes, as at a race-track, the operating-arm L is first swung outward fully, so that first the works will be stopped by the pin L engaging the balance-wheel N, and then the incline L byengaging the pin J will shift the link J until the screw K lies in the longitudinal portion of the slot J Then the spring I will suddenly throw the arm G (with the link J) inward, bringing, the edge G against the periphery of the cam E, and whatever position the cam may be in it will be thrown back instantly into such a position that the edge G will lie in the corner of the cam. In this position the cam will be held as long as the arm Gremains pressed inward, and the spindle A, with the secondshand A, will therefore be kept stationary in a predetermined position, preferably with the seconds-hand pointing to or to XII, as the dial may be numbered. Now at the moment of the start the owner of the watch presses the arm L inward, so that the pin J is engaged by the incline L and the link J and arm G are moved outward, releasing the cam E and spindle A and at the same time setting the clockwork free, since the pin L moves off the balance-wheel N. The watch will thus start, and the owner only has to follow the horse, motor-carriage, or other racer.

At the finish the arm L is moved outward,

but only half-way, so as to only bring the pin L against the balance-wheel without changing the position of the link J. The works will therefore be arrested and the secondshand will stop at whatever point it may be at the moment of the finish, thus enabling the exact time to be read off. Then the owner brings the arm L to its outermost position, thus allowing the link J and arm G to fly inward and bringing the seconds-hand back to its starting position, as above described. To enable the arm L to he moved readily only half-way, said arm is preferably made elastic, so that it will snap into a notch H of the case when at the center of its course and into a notch H when at the outer end of its course.

When the spindle a of the seconds-hand a has the usual eccentric location, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the construction is but slightly difierent from that above described. The wheel a is fast on the spindle a; but the seconds-hand a is loose thereon,being secured to a sleeve 0, rigid with the heart-cam e, and this cam has alug e, withaspring (1 attached thereto, said spring engaging an angular portion of the spindle a and extending through an opening in the side of the sleeve a The arm g, with its edge g and fulcrum 9 the spring 71, the link j, with its slot 7' connection j, and pinsj j the screw 70, and the operating-arm Z, with inclined surfaces Z P, fulcrum Z manipulating portion or handle Z and stop-pin Z are of substantially the same construction as the correspondingly lettered parts in Figs. 1 and 2, and it will therefore be unnecessary to describe them again in de tail. The pin L or may be arranged to stop the balance-wheel at the same time the edge G throws the seconds-hand back. In this case the notches H H' are superfluous; but the seconds-hand can only be made to fly back and not to stop at the point at which it momentarily is.

I may omit the projection or pin L or Z in which case the seconds-hand A a would fly back to its original position whenever desired, while the clockwork would continue to work even when the seconds-hand is held stationary. Instead of the heart-cam I mayemploy a cam of an equivalent shape.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a watch, the combination of a driving- \vl1eel,a seconds-hand loosely connected therewith, a friction connection or clutch between the wheel and the seconds-hand, a heart-cam rigid with the seconds-hand, aspring-pressed arm arranged to strike said cam to cause the seconds-hand to fly back to a predetermined position, a projection or stop for engaging the watch-movement to stop the same, and an operating-arm having a step-by-step movement in one direction, said arm being arranged to move the projection or stop on its initial or first step into engagement with the watch-1n ovement and to bring about the operative movement of the spring-pressed arm during the second step, the return movement of the said arm serving to disengage the projection or stop from the watch-movement and the spring-pressed arm from the cam.

2. In a watch, the combination of adrivingwheel, aseeonds-hand loosely connected therewith, a friction connection or clutch between the wheel and the seconds-hand, aheart-canl rigid with the seconds-hand, aspring-pressed arm arranged to strike the cam to cause the seconds-hand to fly back to a predetermined position, an elastic projection or stop for engaging the watch-movement to stop the same, and an operating-arm having a step-by-step movement in one direction, said arm being arranged to move the projection or stop on its initial or first step into engagement with the watch-movement and to bring about the operative movement of the spring pressed arm during the second step, the return movement of the said arm serving to disengage the projection or stopfrom the watch-movement, and the spring-pressed arm from the cam.

3. In a watch, the combination of a drivingwheel,a seconds-hand loosely connected therewith, a friction connection or clutch between the wheel and the seconds-hand, a heartcam rigid with the seconds-hand, a springpressed arm arranged to strike said cam to cause the seconds-hand to fly back to a predetermined position, a retaining-link arranged. to hold said arm away from the cam, an op-- arm having a two-step movement in one directioh, a stop mechanism arranged to be actuated by the initial or first step of the oper- 4 ating-arms movement to stop the secondshand, and a fly-back mechanism arranged to be actuated by the second or final step of the operating-arms movement, the return movement of the operating-arm serving to release the seconds-hand from the action of theflyback mechanism and of the stop-mechanism.

5. In a watch, the combination of a drivingwheel, a seconds-hand loose thereon, a friction connection or clutch between the drivingwheel and the seconds-hand, a heart-cam rigid,

with the seconds-hand, a spring-pressed'arm adapted to strike said cam, a link having a pivotal connection with the'said arm and an L-shaped guideway, a stationary pin engaging said guideway, and an operating-arm having an actuating connection with said link.

6. In awatch, the combination of a drivingwheel, a seconds-hand having a friction or clutch connection therewith, an operatingarm having a two-step movement in one direction, a stop arranged to be shifted against the clockwork by the initial or first step of the operating-arms movement, and a fly-back mechanism arranged to be actuated by the second or final step of the operating-arms movement, the return movement of the operating-arm serving to release the seconds-hand from the action of the fly-back mechanism, and the clockwork from, the action of the stop.

7. In awatch, the combination with a seconds-hand mounted to be turned by the watchmovement or to turn independently thereof, and a fly-back mechanism for returning the seconds-hand to a predetermined position, of a locking device for holding the fiy-back mechanism inactive, a stop for engaging the watch-movement to stop the same, and a'moving lever for operating the stop into engage ment with the watch-movement and releasin g the locking device when moved in one direction, the return movement of the lever disengaging the stop from the watch-movement and restoring the locking device to its normal position. I

8. In a watch, the combination with a seconds-hand mounted to be turned by the watchmovement or to turn independently thereof, and a fiy-back mechanism for returning the seconds-hand to a predetermined position, of a locking device for holding the fly-back mechanism inactive, and an operating-lever 0peratively connected with the locking device and provided with a stop for engaging the watch-movement to stop the same, said lever when moved in one direction bringing the stop into engagement with the watch-movement and releasing the locking device, and when moved in the opposite direction disengaging the stop from the watch movement and re storing the locking device to its normal position.

9. In a watch, the combination with a seconds-hand mounted to be turned by the watchmovement or to turn independently thereof, and a heart-cam rigid with the seconds-hand, ofa spring-pressed arm adapted to strike the cam to cause the seconds-hand tofly back to a predetermined position, a locking device for the said arm, and an operating-lever having one end operatively connected with the locking device and provided with a stop for engaging the watch-movement to stop the same,- said lever when moved in one direction bring ing the stop into engagement with the watchmovement and releasing the locking device,

and when moved in the opposite direction disengaging the stop from the watch-movement and restoring the locking device to its normal position. i

10. In a watch, the combination with a seconds-hand mounted to be turned by the watch movement or to turn independently thereof, and a heart-cam rigid with the seconds-hand, of a spring-pressed arm adapted to strike the cam to cause the seconds-hand to fly back to a predetermined position, a link pivoted to the arm and provided with an L=shaped guideway, a fixed pin working in the guideway of the link, and an operating-lever having one end operatively connected with the link and provided with a stop for engaging the watch- 7 of a spring-pressed arm adapted to strike the cam to cause the seconds-hand to fly back to.

a predetermined position, a link pivoted to the arm and provided with an L-shaped guideway and with spaced projections, a pin working in the gnideway of the link, and an op erating-lever having at one end inclined faces extending between the projections of the link and provided with a stop for engaging the watch-movement to stop the same.

12. In a watch, the combination with a stop and fiy-baok hand, of an operating-arm having a yielding stop arranged to engage a part of the clockwork during the movement of I 0 said arm in one direction, and a fiy-baok mechanism arranged to be operated by the further movement of said arm in the same direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

SAM GOLDFADEN.

Witnesses:

J OHN LOTKA, EVERARD BOLTON MARSHALL. 

